American Expatriate Confronts Traffic Officers in Dipolog, Mindanao

Please note that I am not here to ‘slag’ or engage in chismis at the expense of the foreigner engaged in this incident with the TMO (traffic enforcement) officers of Dipolog, Mindanao. Any comments revealing his name, YouTube channel or any other identifiers will be deleted.

And as you watch the video, don’t focus on his behavior – identify with his feelings. I myself did just that, and it’s uncomfortable to see the failings of my own coping mechanisms caught on video like that.

Anyhoo….

A viewer sent me a video link this past week showing yet another foreigner having a bit of a meltdown in the Philippines.

Now, from the information I was able to glean from his channel, he seems to be an American and claims to come from North Carolina. (Having spent three years in beautiful NC, his accent checks out.) He also claims that he has been in the Philippines for twenty years. Digging deeper into the comments he has made on his YouTube channel he also seems to have suffered a number of injustices since living here – Past relationships with Filipinas are framing him, the government keeps seizing his property and he has been scammed and bamboozled by an inordinate number of Filipinas and government functionaries. His channel mainly focuses on “corrupt law enforcement” in the Philippines and consists of him filming SWAT, TMO (traffic enforcement) and Philippine National Police (PNP) going about their day-to-day. He then apparently takes that footage and titles it “Corrupt SWAT in Mindanao” or whatever.

To get a deeper understanding of the guy, here is rather convoluted post that he made on a fishing video on his YouTube channel:

“Published on Mar 31, 2019

Hoped enjoyed video. This is me trying to make 3 or 4 dollars a day in Philippines. Catch, sells; eat fish, eels, snakes, sometimes a little dangerous: sea snakes in the river, dirty water, pythons, etc. My name is “John Doe” from N.C. I was preparing to go to states 2 and half years ago. Some corrupt Police approached me and tried to extort money from me. I refused them they stole my property with no impoundment receipts, put me in jail 3 days no food and charged me with 6 charges. ( example drunk driving when in fact both medical facilities they took me to certified i had no alcoholic breath and appeared not in toxicated). I gathered 100% proof of what was happeninf and went to american embassy and asked them to please ask the appropriate Philippine Government Agency to ensure proper investigation. The U.S Embassy response: We are not here to help americans. I’ ve had to fight on my own. Have won 5 cases, 1 still pending. In Dipolog Philippines. If anyone in the Philippine Government can help me please respond. Wish Mr. Donald Trump would see and read this. This has caused me to lose all i have, including my health. All i get i give to my baby and partner. We have been threathened and harassed at times here. I can’t even get my son citizenship unless i have $3500 to fly and stay in Manila and go through lengthy process even though child born to me ( an american citizen). My partner has bachelors degree and fluent in enlish. She and baby have been threatened and are persecuted because i tried filing reports on the corrup police, if anyone deserves asylum wouldn’t it be her and the baby born to an american? But embassy did nothing, while i watch hundreds of thousands of people cross into states with no education or english and yet granted asylum abd benefits. Well we truly need, and we both are willing to work 2 jobs each if make it there. We dont want free from government handouts for months. Can anyone or will anyone help. I included a paypal if anyone donate even 50cents its great. Please share video. Maybe FOX News or CNN coyld have reporter investigate or Trump or Congress person. Any questions please just comment, i will reply i include my philippine BPI account # if any expat of philippine citizen would help even 1 peso im greatful. And yes we cook on fire ni appliances. Im ashamed to ask help but i will for my son. If ever i got enough i would post receipts of applying my son ‘ s citizenchip. Even if cant help donate, please help to share video and message. I have faith there are still good people out there. Philippine President Duterte hope you to get this message of what your corrupt police do.

https://paypal.me/XXXXX

BPI ACCOUNT # XXXX-XXXX-XX”

OK, so I am going to just let that speak for itself. There is waaaaay too much going on there to even start breaking it down.

And I will let the VIDEO speak for itself as well.

Now, keep in mind that the vlogger gives some background to what was going on before they started taking video. According to him, he and his wife had been food shopping when they saw the TMO officers at their motor. He goes on to say that his wife had offered to show the officers her license and other paperwork. He then approached, claims to have offered his ACR card and things escalated from there. I think it is only fair to add this.

But still, no matter what happened before the video, I don’t think there is really any excuse for what he did over the course of the video.

None.

The VAST majority of foreigners have experienced stress and frustration with the day-to-day of life here in the Philippines. I myself, have lost my shit more than a few times here, but it usually coalesces in sarcastic comments, exaggerated eye rolls and me going home to hide in my room for a bit, all the while singing “Bahala na” to the tune of The Muppets “Mahna Mahna.”

Bahala na – doo doooo do doodoo…

As a reminder, I am not here to ‘slag’ anyone or engage in gossip (chismis). Any comments with his name or YouTube channel will be deleted.

I don’t wish harm on anyone, and I hope it works out for this guy.

Until next time, fellow dreamers, puppies, rainbows and unicorns to all!